REPORT

Structure of the text:

A report should be concise and easy to understand. NEVER INCLUDE UNNECESSARY
INFORMATION! You must include a title, headings and also make sure that you answer the points
in the question.

Include the following:

 Title
 introduction
 headings (the three points in the question)
 content
 recommendations
 conclusion

Example question:

Your local authority is conducting a survey into language learning habits of the people between
16-45 in the area. They have asked for a report on the types of methods used in state run schools
and language centres. They have asked for some suggestions on how to improve their facilities,
teaching methods and resources.

Write your report in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.

Example answer:

LANGUAGE TEACHING IN OUR AREA

Introduction

The main purpose of this report is to analyse the effectiveness of language teaching in the local
area. It will offer a review of what is available and also make some recommendations on how to
improve.

Facilities

Due to a lack of funding during the economic recession, the facilities available have not been
renovated since more than a decade ago. What´s more, because of this scarcity of investment,
much of what there is has been over used and/or damaged to some extent. Many modern private
language centres have sprung up around the city in recent years but they are both unaffordable
and difficult to monitor. There are a fair few teachers working who are quite frankly not up to
the job.

Teaching Methods

The methodology used by most teachers has not changed over the last 15 to 20 years or so and
therefore needs to be improved. Teachers need the correct type of training that is not only theory
based but also practical and ready to input into the system. Some teachers see language teaching
as an easy ride and seem to be running down the clock to retirement, to the distain of their
students.

1
Resources

There is a case of follow-the-book syndrome apparent in the local area. Teachers need to be
given the freedom to use their creativity and also the training to be able to implement it in the
classroom. This way resources will be more varied and students will be able to relate to them
more easily.

Recommendations

Taking all of the factors of this report into account, the best plan of action would be to increase
funding to ensure progress. What is more than just money, it is essential that this funding gets
to where it is most needed. I would suggest teacher training and resources to be the priority.

Useful phrases:

Making recommendations Justifying

 It would be a good idea to…  because…
 Would it not be better to…  the reason is…
 Taking all of the factors into account…  the reason I believe that is…
 What about… ?  the facts suggest…
 I should therefore recommend…  the evidence shows…
 How about… ?  taking into account what I have seen…
 Should we not… ?
 Let´s…
 Why not… ?

You can justify your opinion more effectively by being more specific. Try some intermediate (B2)
phrases like these:
 The first reason I believe this is…
 The main reason I feel this way is…
 There are several reasons I believe this. The first is…

When you are not completely certain, you can try one of these more advanced (C1) English
phrases:
 I do not have any special reason for believing this. It just seems right to me that…
 I could be wrong as I have no special reason for believing this. I just feel this is right as…
 I am not sure why I feel this way but I have reason to believe…

When you ARE certain, try one of these phrases:

 There is a lot of evidence to support my point of view. For example…
 There are many facts in favour of my opinion. One such fact is…
 From my own personal experience, I am led to believe…

2
 REVIEW

It is a good idea to include:

 a title
 state what you are reviewing
 a brief description
 recommendations of target audience and summarize the review

Example question:
You have seen this announcement on your favourite music website.
Have you ever been to an amazing concert venue?
Write a review of the best music venue in your local area and tell us about what makes it so
special. Say who you would recommend it for a why?
The best entries will be published on our website.

Example answer:

The Apollo: The Theatre of Dreams

Never before have you seen such an amazing spectacle as you will see in the Apollo. It´s not
only the facilities and personnel that make this venue so great, but also the amazing acoustics
of such a large venue.

From the moment you enter the place there is an awe about it. All of the greatest acts of recent
times have played here and you can feel the buzz as soon as you enter. The crowd are so close
to the stage that they can literally feel the droplets of sweat coming off of the brows of their
favourite artists, this creates an amazing connection between the musicians and the audience
and I can tell you, the fans go wild!

I´d definitely recommend this venue to anyone, it has a great feel to it and the prices are at the
lower end of what you would expect to pay in such a place. They also don’t go over the top on
drinks prices, and through it sounds weird, it´s not all that difficult to get to the bathroom
which is a plus. So, without a doubt, the next time your favourite group is playing, come on
down to the Apollo, oh, and did I mention it is in London? It couldn´t get any better.

3
Useful phrases:
 In my opinion, …
 In my eyes, …
 To my mind, …
 As far as I am concerned, …
 Speaking personally, …
 From my point of view, …
 As for me / As to me, …
 My view / opinion / belief / impression / conviction is that …
 I hold the view that …
 I would say that …
 It seems to me that …
 I am of the opinion that …
 My impression is that …
 I am under the impression that …
 It is my impression that …
 I have the feeling that …
 My own feeling on the subject is that …
 I have no doubt that …
 I am sure / I am certain that …
 I think / consider / find / feel / believe / suppose / presume / assume/reckon that …
 I hold the opinion that …
 I dare say that …
 I guess that …
 I bet that ….
 I gather that …
 It goes without saying that …

Linking:
 As I have said before…
 With respect to the point on…
 Regarding…
 Like I have said…
 In relation to…
 Taking into account…

Speculating :
 Probably – He will probably do the exam next week
 Perhaps/maybe – Perhaps he doesn´t have time
 May/might/could – You might be luckier next time
 What if – What if he doesn´t arrive on time?

4
 LETTER

Example question:
Read part of an email from a friend who is planning on spending their Erasmus year in your
country.
It goes without saying that I will need to learn Spanish, or at least have a good base before I
come, but this is easier said than done. Are their any ways that I could save time doing this?
Could you give me any useful tips to improve quickly?
Reply to the email message offering your friend some advice. Write your email in 220-260
words in an appropriate style.

Plan:
You must always write a plan to make sure you include all of the things in the task. Read the
instructions carefully and ensure that your answer completes the following:
 Is it easy to read and follow?
 Have you checked and corrected for any mistakes/typos?
 Did you answer the question?
 Have you included complex grammar structures?
 Have you used attention-grabbing vocabulary?
 Is all of the information relevant to the task?
 Is the text in the correct format? (letter, email, essay, review, report, proposal)

Example answer:

Hey David,

Long time, no see! What a surprise to receive your email. How long has it been? I think I last
saw you when we were backpacking in Peru.

To start with, as far as I remember your Spanish was pretty good back then so what you really
need to do is brush up on what you have studied in the past. You are a very sociable person and
I am sure you will learn in no time once you are here, but I would recommend studying a little
online befirehand. Have you heard of the websites www.appf.es or
www.intercambioidiomasonline.com? They have some great resources for you to get started.

Providing that you have time to get out and about, I would also recommend finding a language
learning partner to keep up you motivation. It would be a great idea to join a conversation
group to get some practise. Having said that, on the internet you can also join groups of
Facebook to chat to other language learners.

Another thing is to make sure you are consistent. It is a great idea to study a little very day,
doing things that you enjoy. So, what I would advise is to do the magic combination of an
online course, a language learning partner and also a general course book so that you can get
up to speed with grammar structures and common vocabulary.

If you need anything else, give me a buzz at 622950782 and we can have a chat.

Ok, catch you later.

5
IF THE LETTER OR EMAIL ARE INFORMAL. YOU MUST USE COLLOQUIAL TERMS, IDIOMS AND
ALSO SOME GOOD PHRASAL VERBS TO GRAB THE ATTENTION OF THE EXAMINER. THIS
DEMONSTRATES THAT YOU ARE UP TO THE LEVEL REQUIRED IN AN EASY WAY. FORMAL
TEXTS SHOULD BE MORE IMPERSONAL AND LESS DIRECT.

Useful phrases for an informal letter: (use as set phrases in the exam, don´t experiment with
new vocabulary or grammar)

Beginning:
Thanks for your letter, it´s great to hear from you
Long time, no see! What a surprise to receive your email.
It was great to receive your email
Thanks for the email, it seems to me that
I´m glad that…. What I think/reckon is (that)

Ending:
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Ok, catch you later.
Ok, well, see you soon.

Useful phrases for a formal letter:

Beginning:
To whom it might concern…
With regards to the letter/email on…
With reference to your letter/email…
After having received your letter/email…
I received your address from … and would like …
Thank you very much for your letter/email on…
I have been given your contact details by… and I would like to…
In reply to your letter/email of…

Ending:
I hope to hear from you soon…
If you require any further information, feel free to contact me
Should you require anything else, do not hesitate to contact me
Regards
Yours faithfully (if you don’t include the name of the person you are writing to)
Yours sincerely (if you include the name of the person you are writing to)

(signature)

6
 PROPOSAL

IN THE PROPOSAL, YOU MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

 state the purpose of the proposal
 headings for each point made
 use a formal and impersonal style
 state what issues there are
 give recommendations on how to improve

Example proposal question

You go to a university that has a high amount of international students and you have realised
that the website is not up to scratch. Write a proposal for the University Dean about how it
could be improved.

Write your proposal in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.

Example proposal answer

Introduction
This proposal is aimed at outlining the way in which the university website could be improved
so that it is more user friendly for international students. It will suggest what improvements
can be made and also set out how this would benefit the students themselves.

Problems with using the site

A recent study into how easy it is to get around the site has revealed that 70% of students
whose second language is English find it difficult to find specific information about their
courses. Because of the language barrier, they find it hard to make their search terms clear and
this has become a cause for concern. Translating the site is not an option and this can be a big
problem, especially at the beginning of the academic year.

Ways the site could address these issues

It has been well documented that the university website has neither a site map nor an
introduction video to help novice students to find their way around it. It would make a huge
difference if there were some simple instructions to indicate where to find information. It is a
delicate balance as we, of course, want international students to learn English, but also want
them to navigate the site with ease.

Recommendations
I would like to make the following recommendations:
 Invite students who are starting out at the university to a quick and informative
seminar to demonstrate how to use the site.
 Provide language help and some useful resources
(like www.intercambioidiomasonline.com) for language learning and assistance.
 Provide a survival pack for students to take with them and know how to combat
technological issues.

If these recommendations are in place, young people are bound to feel more prepared for their
experience and take full advantage of this unique experience.

7
Useful phrases:
Making recommendations: Justifying:
 One suggestion could be…  because…
 It might be a good idea…  the reason is…
 it would be useful to…  the reason I believe that is…
 It would be a good idea to…  the facts suggest…
 Would not be better to…  the evidence shows…
 Taking all of the factors into account…  taking into account what I have seen…
 What about… ?
 I should therefore recommend…
 How about… ?
 Should we not… ?
 Let´s…
 Why not… ?

You can justify your opinion more effectively by being more specific:
 The first reason I believe this is…
 The main reason I feel this way is…
 There are several reasons I believe this. The first is…

When you are not completely certain, you can try one of these phrases:
 I do not have any special reason for believing this. It just seems right to me that…
 I could be wrong as I have no special reason for believing this. I just feel this is right as…
 I am not sure why I feel this way but I have reason to believe…

When you ARE certain, try one of these phrases:

 There is a lot of evidence to support my point of view. For example…
 There are many facts in favour of my opinion. One such fact is…
 From my own personal experience, I am led to believe…

Providing key information:

 What you should do is…
 To address this issue…
 what should be the priority is…
 one key feature for the future is…

Conclusion:
 in a nutshell  in short
 as can be seen  in brief
 in the final analysis  in essence
 all things considered  to summarize
 as shown above  on balance
 in the long run  altogether
 given these points  overall
 as has been noted  by and large
 in a word  to sum up
 for the most part  on the whole
 after all  in any event
 in fact  taking all of this into account
 in summary  all in all
 in conclusion

8
 ESSAY

An essay should analyse a topic from different points of view to give a balanced argument on
said topic. It should include your opinion in the conclusion, yet still be imparcial to give a well
balanced view on the topic from more than one angle. YOU MUST MAKE SURE YOUR ANSWERS:

 CLEAR PURPOSE
 CLEAR STRUCTURE
 APPROPRIATE STYLE
 COHERENCE (logical order)
 INCLUDE OPINION

Example of an essay:

Plan:

You must always write a plan to make sure you include all of the things in the task. Read the
instructions carefully and ensure that your answer completes the following:

 Is it easy to read and follow?

 Have you checked and corrected for any mistakes/typos?
 Did you answer the question?
 Have you included complex grammar structures?
 Have you used attention grabbing vocabulary?
 Is all of the information relevant to the task?
 Is the text in the correct format? (letter, email, essay, review, report, proposal)

9
Structure of an essay:

Title
You can use the one from the question or also make up your own to set the tone for the essay

Introduction
Introduce the topic and say what you are going to talk about and capture the interest of the
reader

1st paragraph
The first and most important point from the notes (you can mix points if they are related)

2nd paragraph
The 2nd point from the notes, you need to link it to the first point

Conclusion
A summary of what you have said in the main paragraphs and make your main point. It must
be an interesting ending, what do you want to demonstrate?

Example of an essay:

Where should we invest local authority funding?

To some extent it is impossible to agree on where or to whom local governments should

allocate funding. In all cases there will be disagreement as to what is the best cause of action.
This essay is aimed at discussing the importance of this funding and the influence it can have
on our society.

It is said that a person without their health has nothing. One of the principal aims of local
government should be to ensure the wellbeing of the general public. This point does not refer
to the investment in healthcare, but the investment in schemes to prevent the deterioration of
heath. Sports centres could well be the answer to health problems as a more active nation is a
healthier one, and the promotion of phrasal activity and the knowledge of how to live a
healthier lifestyle is a must in today´s society.

Another point that needs to be made is that of education. The investment in a good
educational system is implicit, therefore more investment needs to be made so that people can
further their contact with culture and further learning. Museums are a national pastime and
should be accessible to all. What is more, they should be of a good standard to capture the
interest of the people in order to educate them.

In a nutshell, local governments have an obligation to invest in fruitful projects that are both
long-term and beneficial to the people. They must focus of the promotion of the improvement
of the standard of living, and what better than in health and education. But referring to the
point made earlier, without out heath, education is worth for nothing.

10
ESSAYS ARE FORMAL AND YOU MUST USE FORMAL LANGUAGE, avoid:
 Informal language (slang and colloquialisms)
 Contractions
 Phrasal verbs when possible

Introduction:
 To get started
 On starting this essay
 Firstly
 To begin with
 In the first place
 until now
 the first point I´d like to make is
 it is time to
 I would like to start by
 To start with
 To introduce the topic
 To kick off this essay
 The first thing to mention is
 As a starting point
 In the first part
 On the one hand

Time clauses:
 Firstly, secondly, thirdly
 in due time
 as long as
 as soon as
 at the moment
 in good time
 in the meantime
 in a moment
 in ages
 whenever
 now that
 instantly
 without delay
 all of a sudden
 at the present time
 from time to time
 sooner or later
 at the same time
 up to the present time
 at this instant
 first, second
 in time
 prior to
 straightaway
 by the time
 in this day and age
 as soon as

11
Linking:
 As I have said before…
 With respect to the point on…
 Regarding…
 Like I have said…
 In relation to…
 Taking into account…

Conclusion:
 in a nutshell
 as can be seen
 in the final analysis
 all things considered
 as shown above
 in the long run
 given these points
 as has been noted
 in a word
 for the most part
 after all
 in fact
 in summary
 in conclusion
 in short
 in brief
 in essence
 to summarize
 on balance
 altogether
 overall
 by and large
 to sum up
 on the whole
 in any event
 taking all of this into account
 all in all

12
 THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ESSAY FORMAT

When writing essays, you should think of the writing as a checklist:

1. Is it in the correct format and organisation?
2. Have you answered the question?
3. Is it easy to read?
4. Have you used complex grammar forms?
5. Are there few errors? (spelling, grammar, vocabulary)

You MUST complete all of these points to be able to pass the writing part of an exam.

Essays in general are very similar; the differences being the way you put forward your ideas (if
you include personal opinions or not etc.) Here is a simple plan for a generic essay:

 Introduction
Introduce the topic and say what you are going to talk about and capture the interest of the
reader. You must present your argument with a question, fact, opinion or statistic.

 1st paragraph
The first point from the notes (you can mix points if they are related

 2nd paragraph
The 2nd point from the notes, you need to link it to the first

 (3rd paragraph)
The final point to help balance the argument

 Conclusion
A summary of what you have said in the main paragraphs and make your main point. Make this
concise and informative.

13
The different types of essay format

Descriptive essays are aimed at creating a vivid experience for the reader. Often, a descriptive
essay will focus on describing one of the following:
 a place
 a memory
 an experience
 an object
 A person

To write a great descriptive essay candidates need to use a wide range of descriptive vocabulary
such as adjectives and adverbs. A great way is to make a short plan:
1. What do you want to describe?
2. What details do you need to include?
3. Have you used enough descriptive language?
4. Have you separated your points into clear paragraphs?
5. Is your essay organized in a logical way?

Discursive essays are like a debate. The writer needs to present different points of view about
a theme or topic. Candidates need to use language that shows agreement and disagreement.
Equal measure should be given to both positive and negative points. They must also justify their
points of view. A typical example of this are advantages/disadvantages essays.

Candidates must plan and structure their essay very carefully:

1. Introduction: Present the topic and sets the tone for the essay. Uou normally use a fact,
statistic, opinion or question to do this.
2. First paragraph: Gives the main argument supporting the topic. You need to give a balanced
view of the point and state why it is the most important.
3. Second paragraph: Gives another argument that supports the topic, link it to the main point
4. IF NECESSARY (Third paragraph: Gives an argument against the topic)
5. IF NECESSARY (Fourth paragraph: Gives an argument against the topic)
6. Conclusion: Summarises your point of view. An gives the reader the impression that they
have learned something.

IF IT IS AN ADVANTAGES/DISADVANAGES ESSAY YOU CAN ORGANIZE IT LIKE THIS:

1. Introduction
2. Advantages
3. Disadvantages
4. Conclusion

Persuasive essays. In this type of essay the candidate needs to write about their point of view
and try to make the audience adopt it. The most important thing is how the candidate presents
their ideas, rationalize their points and present their opinion. Remember, the main goal of this
type of essay is to persuade and convince the reader. You must research the point well to justify
your argument well.

Argumentative essay. Candidates need to write an organised essay that shows agreeing and
disagreeing. They must also justify their arguments. This type of essay is very similar to a
persuasive essay, the only difference being that you are trying to put emphasis on your own
opinion. The most important thing is to argue your point of view and justify it.

14
 Narrative essays offer the writer the chance to write the essay as if it were a story. The writer
can write about personal experiences and even include dialogue. To write a great narrative essay
candidates must use the conventions of a good story and try to include:
1. Plot (argument)
2. Characters (who)
3. Setting (where)
4. Climax (what)
5. Ending (conclusion)

Analytical essays

In this type of essay the candidate needs to analyze, examen and interpret something. The
analysis of something is not about describing it, what they need to do is show the readers what
they want them to see. They need to break down the point and analyse it in an organized and
logical fashion. To write an effective essay of this type, you must include various points:
1. An introduction to present the argument.
2. You must analyse your argument with 3-4 different points. These points should be separated
into paragraphs, but you can include links.
3. A personal response. You need to include your own opinion.
4. A conclusion. The relation between the argument and the analysis.

Expository essays are the writers explanation of a theme or topic. The aim of this type of essay
is to give your personal response to a topic. To write a great essay of this type, you must
complete a few specific things:
1. Start with a key statement or question. Your essay needs to answer this question.
2. Provide evidence to support and justify your argument.
3. Be concise. The essay needs to be to the point and avoid repetition.

15
 FORMAL VS. INFORMAL WRITING
The first thing to understand is that there are many types of text that need to be practised before
the day of the exam. It is important to understand the type of language that should be used in
each type of text and to write appropriately. This usually depends on two things, the question
and the reader. The candidate MUST take into account who the text is written for to know if it
is formal or informal; for example if it is for a friend it should be more informal than for
something directed at a work colleague.
Formal texts: essays, reports, proposals, letters and emails.
Informal texts: reviews, articles, letters, emails and some essays (semi-formal)

Formal:
Formal texts and impersonal and usually written in work or academic situations; try to focus on
the question and think, “who is going to read this?”. As formal texts use an indirect and
impersonal tone, you should avoid including your personal opinion and you should include
general opinions, data and also the passive voice.

What to avoid in formal texts:

Phrasal verbs – use one word verbs like tolerate instead of put up with
Contractions – use do not instead of don´t
Direct questions – use indirect questions when possible
Less common words – use various instead of lots of
Abbreviations – use approximately instead of approx.
Exclamation marks – don’t use!!!!
Direct personal tone
Incomplete sentences
Some connectors – but, however, therefore… Try to use nevertheless, thus, hence etc.

Example questions:
Formal application letter:
Birmingham City University offers two full scholarships per year to worthy students; these
scholarships are very competitive and include fees, accommodation and costs.
Write a letter to the university to apply for the scholarship and explain why you deserve to be
given this opportunity.

Informal:
Informal texts should be friendly, warm and personal. You can use phrasal verbs, colloquial
language and they should sound a lot like spoken English. They are usually written to friends or
people that you know well. They should be easy to read and entertaining.
Informal texts should include:
Phrasal verbs – put off and not delay/postpone
Contractions – can´t, don´t and won´t
Direct questions and question tags – What about you?
Idioms and expressions
Direct speech
Active speak
Common words: use terms like enough, lots of, fun, awesome, awkward
Abbreviations: approx. instead of approximately or App and not application

16
 ARTICLE

Structure of the text:

 Introduction.
 Topic points.
 Closing paragraph/conclusion.

 Introduction. Engage the reader and make them want to read more, you can begin with
a question. Things to remember:
1. Give your article a title.
2. Start with a personalised question.
3. Include the topic and give your opinion or comment on it.

 Topic points. State your main points and relate them to personal experiences and
opinions. Requirements:
1. Stick to the topic and don’t write about unrelated things.
2. Support your answers with some examples and/or reasons.
3. Use neutral to informal language (check the section ‘What a typical article task
looks like’ above to find out what that means).
4. Use other language to make your article sound more interesting
(adjectives/adverbs, idioms, phrasal verbs, linking words, play with some
grammar).

 Closing paragraph / Conclusion. Summarize your main points but make an overall point
to make the reader think they have learned something from reading the article
1. Summarise what you wrote in your article.
2. Comment on the topic or give your opinion one last time.
3. End your article in an interesting way.

Example of a question:
You see this post on an English language website:
The most useful bit of language learning advice
What is the best way to learn a language? Where did you learn about it? Who taught it to you?
Write an article about these questions. The best articles will be published on the site.

Example answer:
The most useful bit of language learning advice
The most useful bit of advice I have ever received was from an online course. I had been studying
English for years but with no success, I wasn’t motivated to learn and I found it difficult. As it
was so challenging for me; I started to give up until one day I came across this advice. Start with
what you enjoy. But how can we make sure that we enjoy the language learning process?

17
The best way to learn a language is to relate it to yourself and your life. You need to think about
what topics you are most likely to use and begin with those. If you study about something that
doesn’t capture your attention, it is difficult to learn. As I read recently on the course, “to learn
something well, you need to enjoy it”. This is very true with languages. The creator of the course
has hit the nail on the head because not only should you listen to English every day, but you also
need to speak it on a daily basis. I try to think in English and I read in English all the time to keep
up to date and not go rusty.

All in all, I reckon that languages are important to open your mind and be able to travel with
ease. I’d recommend this course to everyone and I’m glad I found it.

USEFUL LANGUAGE:

Involving the reader:

 Have you ever thought about…?
 How would you feel if …?
 What would you think of…?
 Are you one of those people who …?
 If the answer is …, you should….
 What do you reckon to …?
 What would live be like if…
 Just think for a moment…
 Just imagine…

Making the article lively and interesting (use adverbs):

 importantly
 surprisingly
 worryingly
 the most amazing
 absolutely
 suddenly
 amazingly
 fantastically
 frighteningly

Developing your points:

 Another advantage of …
 On top of all that…
 What is more, …
 Above all,,,
 The reason I think this is…
 The reason I feel this way is…
 On top of that, …
 Let’s start with …

18
Giving your own opinión:
 In my opinion, …
 In my eyes, …
 To my mind, …
 As far as I am concerned, …
 Speaking personally, …
 From my point of view, …
 As for me / As to me, …
 My view / opinion / belief / impression / conviction is that …
 I hold the view that …
 I would say that …
 It seems to me that …
 I am of the opinion that …
 My impression is that …
 I am under the impression that …
 It is my impression that …
 I have the feeling that …
 My own feeling on the subject is that …
 I have no doubt that …
 I am sure / I am certain that …
 I think / consider / find / feel / believe / suppose / presume / assume / reckon that …
 I hold the opinion that …
 I dare say that …
 I guess that …
 I bet that ….
 I gather that …
 It goes without saying that …

Justifying opinions:
To begin, you can use these basic (B1) phrases to justify an opinion in English:
 because…
 the reason is…
 the reason I believe that is…
 the facts suggest…
 the evidence shows…
 taking into account what I have seen…

When you ARE certain, try one of these (B2) phrases:

 There is a lot of evidence to support my point of view. For example…
 There are many facts in favour of my opinion. One such fact is…
 From my own personal experience, I am led to believe…

When you are not completely certain, you can try one of these more advanced (C1) English
phrases:
 I don’t have any special reason for believing this. It just seems right to me that…
 I could be wrong as I have no special reason for believing this. I just feel this is right as…
 I’m not sure why I feel this way but I have reason to believe…

19